Thread protector



April 30, 1929. P. J. SHRUM THREAD PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 9, 1925 .FIG. 3.

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 30, 1929 V.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER JOHN SI-IRUM, OF MONACA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T COLONA MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

THREAD rnornc'ron.

Application filed December 9, 1925. Serial No. 74,388. i

This invention relates to a thread protector for pipes, couplings and the like, and particularly to an improvement in thread ,protectors of the general type shown in my United States Patent No. 1,475,032 of Noven'1ber20, 1923.

In my patent above referred to, there is shown a machine for the manufacture of a particular form of thread protector wherein the thread protector is made of an integral piece of tubing having a Central portion -which is interiorly threaded to engagethe thread to be protected and which has a flared inner portion that protects the innermost portion of the thread and which has an inturned flange at its outer end against which the end of the pipe to be protected abuts. When the thread protector is formed from a length of tubing, it sometimes happens that the flange at the outer end of the protector will not be bent to exactly the proper angle to abut against the end of the pipe and yet be entirely clear of the first thread of the pipe. If this flange is not entirely clear of the thread of the pipe, it will tend to distort the thread.

According to the present invention, it is proposed to form the coupling of two parts, each of which may be positively formed by a direct stamping or pressing operation' so that absolute uniformity may 'be obtained.

It is, therefore, possible toprovide a thread protector wherein the inwardly turned flange is always of a shape which will positively prevent injury to the thread of the pipe to be protected.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, but to the details of construction of which my invention is not confined.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents an end view of a thread protector embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 represents a transverse section therethrough in the plane of line II-II of Figure 1, this figure also showing the end of ta pipe to be protected inserted in the protector;

1 Figure 3 is a side elevation of the protector. The protector is comprised of an inner sleeve member 5 and an outer part or sleeve member 6. The inner member 5 has a main portion 7 which is of a suitable diameter to cooperate with the end of a threaded pipe to 65 be protected, and the inner surface thereof is threaded as indicated at 8. Near the innermost end of the member 5, there is a shoulder 9 and an enlarged portion 10.

This enlarged portion of the inner member is adapted to protect the extreme inner portion of the threads of a threaded pipe end. It also provides means for quickly and easily centering the protector on the end of a piece of pipe to which it is applied.

- The outer member 6 has a cylindrical portion 11 fitting over portion 7 of the inner member. On the outer end of the member 6 is an inwardly turned flange 12 which is at right-angles to the portion 11-. The flange 12 is preferably spaced away from the innermost end of the inner member 5.

The outer member 6 is attached to the inner member 5 in any suitable manner. According to the preferred method of forming the article, it is proposed to punch the metal of the part 6 inwardly at several points as indicated at 13 whereby the outer member 6 will be firmly connected to the'inner member 5.

According to the preferred method of forming the article, the member 5 is stamped from a piece of sheet metal and the member 6 is formed in a similar way. Each piece may be positively brought to the desired shape by a direct pressing operation. The member 6 is then fitted over the member 5 until the relative movement of the part 6 with respect to the part 5 is limited by the beginning of the shoulder 9. With the parts in this position, the member 6 is punched to produce the pressed in portions 13 that serve to connect the two members. It will be seen that the member 6 is of such a dimension when the part 11 has been fitted over the part 8 until it is stopped by the beginning of the shoulder 9, a space will be formed between the innermost end of the member 5 and the inturned flange 12 of the member 6.

A protector as constructed in accordance with the present invention may be accurately formed with the flange 12 at right angles to part 11, so that when the end of a pipe A is threaded into the protector it will abut squarely against the flange 12 and no part of the flange or of the part 11 or of the corner can bear against the thread of the pipe A to distort or otherwise injure it. Since the parts are formed by a direct positive pressing operation, they can be uniform and the part 12 must necessarily always be in the proper position. By reason of the space between the flange 12 and the inner end of the member 5 it is assured that there can be no binding of the first few threads of the pipe.

By attaching the two parts in the manner described, the two parts are firmly and permanently united Without resorting to the use of solder or welding and the connection possesses suflicient strength for the purpose to which the article is to be applied.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thread protector including an inner sleeve member having an inner end portion with an enlarged external diameter and having a threaded interior, a second sleeve fitted over the first and secured thereto, said second sleeve having an inturned flange spaced away from the outer end of the first sleeve member.

2. A thread protector including an inner substantially non-compressible sleeve member having a threaded interior portion and its inner end terminating in an outwardly flared portion, and a sleeve fitted over said first sleeve and secured thereto, the said second sleeve having its outer end terminating in an inwardly extending flange portion at substantially right angles to its main body portion.

3. A thread protector including an inner continuous metallic sleeve member having its main body portion interiorly threaded and its inner-most end terminating in an enlarged portion having a greater inner diameter than the inner diameter of its main body portion and a second sleeve of substantially uniform external diameter on the first sleeve and secured thereto, the said second sleeve having an inwardly turned flange disposed on its outer end at right angles thereto and spaced away from the outer end of the first sleeve member.

4. A thread protector including an inner sleeve member having a threaded interior portion and a second sleeve member of substantially uniform exterior diameter on the first member, another portion of the said first sleeve member having an enlarged internal diameter and an external diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of the second sleeve member.

5. In combination with a pipe having a threaded end of a thread protector for engaging and co-operating with the threads disposed on the pipe, the said protector comprising an inner sleeve member having a threaded interior portion for engaging and co-operating with the pipe threads and having its inner end terminating in an enlarged portion adapted to lie in spaced relation to the pipe, a second sleeve fitted over the first sleeve and secured thereto, said second sleeve having its outer end terminating in an inturned flange for engaging the end of the pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER JOHN SHRUM. 

